The Knight Who Broke Off Our Engagement and Told Me to Never Show My Face Again Still Clings to Me Today, Even Though I Was Possessed and Turned Into a Villainess for Ten Years - 46 - Birthday 1
“Sadie, your birthday is coming soon.”
“Yeah. It’s two weeks away, but somehow I feel nervous.”
“So Sadie is already turning eighteen. In my mind, you’re still just a little kid.”
“Norman, you really are like an older brother.”
One afternoon, I was relaxing and having tea in our garden with Eliza and Norman.
It seemed like the two of them had gotten used to life here. They both looked healthier now. Of course, I heard that Gerald was taking care of Norman’s health properly.
I had gone with Norman once to meet that man, but Norman just trembled in the corner of the room and couldn’t even look him in the eye. It was like he was a completely different person from the one who attacked me before. It felt eerie.
“Are you really going to do it on your birthday? It’s such a special day.”
“Not many people would come to celebrate me anyway. The party is going to be small.”
Eliza seemed worried about using my birthday party as the time to trap Mabel.
But because of the bad rumors Tabatha spread, no matter how many invitations we send, very few people would actually attend my birthday party. My family and close friends said they would celebrate with me separately, and honestly, that alone makes me happy.
I had already told my parents that I would only pretend to suffer from the effects of the drug. I warned them I’d have to act very convincingly, but I also thought this whole story was a bit forced. Still, for now, they seemed to accept it.
“Are you not inviting Rufus?”
“No. Rufus shouldn’t be seen with me publicly, so I won’t send him anything or say anything.”
The bad rumors about me were still spreading in high society. If I invited Rufus, it would only cause trouble for him and his family. And if he saw me collapse, he would definitely worry too much.
…To be honest, I would love to have Rufus celebrate with me. But I know I can’t be selfish like that, and this just isn’t the time for it.
“Hehe, you really love that necklace, don’t you?”
Before I realized it, I had been touching the necklace at my neck without thinking. It was the one with the red stone that Rufus bought for me when we went out together the other day.
Since then, I’ve worn it every single day, never taking it off.
“It matches with Rufus’s, right? It’s lovely.”
“Yeah. It’s really important to me.”
“Sadie, you’re so cute. You look just like a girl in love.”
Eliza smiled happily and patted my head.
“I hope everything gets solved soon so you and Rufus can meet openly.”
“Thank you, Eliza.”
“I agree. You two really suit each other.”
“N-no, we don’t…!”
I told them Rufus and I weren’t like that, but I suddenly remembered how the old lady at the shop said the same thing, and I felt strangely restless.
◇◇◇
“Lady Sadie, you look so, so beautiful…!”
“Thank you, everyone. Really.”
Before I knew it, the day of my birthday had arrived. The maids had dressed me up with all their skill, but when I thought about how the party would be ruined halfway through, my heart ached.
Even so, when I looked in the mirror, I was so beautiful that I couldn’t help but stare. It felt like I was a princess from one of the fairy tales I read as a child. It felt strange, like it wasn’t even me.
“This dress is really amazing too. As expected of—”
“Hey, stop it!”
“Ah! I’m sorry!”
“…Huh?”
As the maids chatted like that, they suddenly rushed out of the room in a panic. I wasn’t sure what happened, but I looked at the beautiful dress reflected in the full-length mirror. It had tiny, colorful flowers all over it.
Matching decorations were also woven into my hair. It looked so cute. I didn’t know if Father had picked it out, but this dress that looked like a flower garden was the most beautiful one I’d ever seen. I couldn’t help but twirl around in front of the mirror again and again, feeling so excited.
“Sadie, may we come in?”
“Yes, come in.”
When I answered through the door, Eliza and Norman came into the room. They congratulated me and praised me so much it made me blush. By the way, today they were both supposed to stay inside the mansion.
Then suddenly, Eliza took my hand and said, “Come with me,” and started walking.
“Eliza, where are we going?”
“…Sadie, right now we don’t have any money or anything special to give you as a present. I’m really sorry.”
“We feel bad since you’ve always been so kind to us.”
“D-don’t worry about that!”
As they pulled me along the hallway, I desperately tried to tell them not to apologize. They had helped me countless times over the past ten years.
“Even so, we kept thinking that we wanted to do something for you, no matter what.”
Soon, they stopped in front of the parlor door. I looked at the two of them, wondering what was going on.
“Happy 18th birthday.”
“We love you, Sadie.”
With those words, Norman opened the door, and Eliza gently pushed me forward into the room.
I heard the door quietly close behind me. I stood there, wondering what this was about, when I noticed someone already inside the room.
And the moment I saw that face, I gasped.
“…Rufus?”